Page 10 - SAMENA Trends - September 2021

SAMENA COUNCIL ACTIVITY SAMENA TRENDS

SAMENA Council Identifies Two-Pronged Challenge of Expediting
5G Development and Connecting the Still Un-connected; Shares

Recommendations to Tackle Broadband Financing and Funding Gaps at
the 12th Global MBBF in Dubai

Supporting Huawei’s 12th Global Mobile on at least two fronts: one, on reality- necessary requirements for achieving the
Broadband Forum (MBBF 2021) as the based policy-making and evidence-based UN 2030 SDGs.
region’s premier industry body and regulatory approaches, and, two, on unity
presenting the case for Telecom Operators among industry stakeholders to tackle During MBBF 2021, SAMENA Council
to be better incentivized on future the challenge of building new broadband voiced the need to expand the scale of
infrastructure investments, SAMENA infrastructure. beneficial utilization of 5G cross all sectors
Telecommunications Council, represented of all regional economies, while being both
by Bocar BA, CEO & Board Member, In this regard, BA highlighted the Broadband inclusive and thinking “green 5G”. At the
highlighted that 5G will be a widespread Commission's contributions toward policy-level, this merits harmonizing policy
reality only if financial resources are developing broadband, including through a and regulatory efforts in collaboration
dedicated to its development along set of four key strategic recommendations, with Telecom Operators and Technology
with necessary policy and regulatory which have recently come out from Providers, like Huawei. In order to address
enablement steps. “This is at a time when the work of the Commission’s Working impediments to 5G adoption, to bring
we also require unlocking access to capital Group on 21st Century Financing & benefits of 5G, and thus to empower a
for ensuring universal broadband access Funding Model. The recommendations better Middle East, SAMENA Council also
for all, including the still un-connected were released during the Commission’s elaborated on the necessity of being
populations in the region. So, the challenge Annual Fall Meeting held last month, perfectly aligned and orienting stakeholder
is double: developing 5G and connecting and capture the essence of how ICT focus to sustainability and to executing
the still-unconnected”, BA stated. stakeholders need to move forward in better forms of collaboration.
closing connectivity gaps and developing
To tackle the financial resource gaps for future broadband infrastructure. The four MBBF 2021 is being held at JAFZA One
building advanced digital infrastructure, strategic recommendations set forward Convention Centre in Dubai, and offers an
including 5G networks, which can the principles of (1) broadening the base opportunity for the mobile and adjacent
empower the Middle East, or any region of contributors, (2) earmarking proceeds vertical ecosystems to reconnect, rebuild,
for that matter, massive public-private from ICT sector participants, (3) reforming and reimagine a fully connected, intelligent
efforts are required. However, to make universal service and access funds and, (4) world. It is a hybrid event that many
that happen, transformation is required the creation of an international fund among participants are joining in person.

10 SEPTEMBER 2021